Herbs and spices are vital in giving flavour to our dishes. It’s a must-have for every household, but how many of us know the proper way to store it?
Proper storage helps preserve the freshness and flavour of the various herbs and spices. With improper storage, they have the risk of clumping up, making it harder to use in cooking.
Therefore, in this article, we will be providing you a guide on how to store your herbs and spices to avoid them clumping up.
Knowing Your Herbs & Spices
First and foremost, it is important to note that the three biggest threats to spices are light, humidity and oxygen. These environmental factors will be the biggest causes of herbs and spices clumping and/or going bad.
Storing Your Herbs & Spices
Now that you know the threats, here are five tips on how to properly store and maximise the shelf life of your herbs and spices:
1. Store them in a cool, dark and dry area.
This could either be on a shelf away from the stove or a hidden cabinet near the sink.
2. Use dark-coloured containers when storing herbs and spices.
This helps to minimise the amount of light coming into contact with them and slows the oxidation process down.
3. If you can’t use dark-coloured containers, try using airtight glass ones instead.
Spices, when stored in airtight glass containers, lose less essential oils compared to plastic ones. Additionally, the lack of oxygen helps your herbs and spices last longer since the oxidation process is slowed down.
4. Use a dry spoon or scoop when removing the herbs and spices from containers.
This helps to lessen both the risk of contamination and spilling the herbs and spices everywhere.
5. Don’t sprinkle your herbs and spices directly into a hot pot while cooking.
The steam from the pot could come into contact with them, thus causing moisture buildup. This can potentially cause the herbs and spices to go bad.
We hope this guide helps you understand the importance of proper storage and also helps you prevent your herbs and spices from clumping up!